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Woe to the Obstinate Nation

30 “Woe to the obstinate children,”declares the Lord,“to those who carry out plans that are not mine,forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit,heaping sin upon sin;2 who go down to Egyptwithout consulting me;who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection,to Egypt’s shade for refuge.3 But Pharaoh’s protection will be to your shame,Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace.4 Though they have officials in Zoanand their envoys have arrived in Hanes,5 everyone will be put to shamebecause of a people useless to them,who bring neither help nor advantage,but only shame and disgrace.”

6 A prophecy concerning the animals of the Negev:

Through a land of hardship and distress,of lions and lionesses,of adders and darting snakes,the envoys carry their riches on donkeys’ backs,their treasures on the humps of camels,to that unprofitable nation,7 to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless.Therefore I call herRahab the Do-Nothing.

8 Go now, write it on a tablet for them,inscribe it on a scroll,that for the days to comeit may be an everlasting witness.9 For these are rebellious people, deceitful children,children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction.10 They say to the seers,“See no more visions!”and to the prophets,“Give us no more visions of what is right!Tell us pleasant things,prophesy illusions.11 Leave this way,get off this path,and stop confronting uswith the Holy One of Israel!”

12 Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says:

“Because you have rejected this message,relied on oppressionand depended on deceit,13 this sin will become for youlike a high wall, cracked and bulging,that collapses suddenly, in an instant.14 It will break in pieces like pottery,shattered so mercilesslythat among its pieces not a fragment will be foundfor taking coals from a hearthor scooping water out of a cistern.”

15 This is what the SovereignLord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation,in quietness and trust is your strength,but you would have none of it.16 You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’Therefore you will flee!You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’Therefore your pursuers will be swift!17 A thousand will fleeat the threat of one;at the threat of fiveyou will all flee away,till you are leftlike a flagstaff on a mountaintop,like a banner on a hill.”

18 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.For the Lord is a God of justice.Blessed are all who wait for him!

19 People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”22 Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!”

23 He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.24 The oxen and donkeys that work the soil will eat fodder and mash, spread out with fork and shovel.25 In the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall, streams of water will flow on every high mountain and every lofty hill.26 The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.

27 See, the Name of the Lord comes from afar,with burning anger and dense clouds of smoke;his lips are full of wrath,and his tongue is a consuming fire.28 His breath is like a rushing torrent,rising up to the neck.He shakes the nations in the sieve of destruction;he places in the jaws of the peoplesa bit that leads them astray.29 And you will singas on the night you celebrate a holy festival;your hearts will rejoiceas when people playing pipes go upto the mountain of the Lord,to the Rock of Israel.30 The Lord will cause people to hear his majestic voiceand will make them see his arm coming downwith raging anger and consuming fire,with cloudburst, thunderstorm and hail.31 The voice of the Lord will shatter Assyria;with his rod he will strike them down.32 Every stroke the Lord lays on themwith his punishing clubwill be to the music of timbrels and harps,as he fights them in battle with the blows of his arm.33 Topheth has long been prepared;it has been made ready for the king.Its fire pit has been made deep and wide,with an abundance of fire and wood;the breath of the Lord,like a stream of burning sulfur,sets it ablaze.

Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt

31 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,who rely on horses,who trust in the multitude of their chariotsand in the great strength of their horsemen,but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,or seek help from the Lord.2 Yet he too is wise and can bring disaster;he does not take back his words.He will rise up against that wicked nation,against those who help evildoers.3 But the Egyptians are mere mortals and not God;their horses are flesh and not spirit.When the Lord stretches out his hand,those who help will stumble,those who are helped will fall;all will perish together.

4 This is what the Lord says to me:

“As a lion growls,a great lion over its prey—and though a whole band of shepherdsis called together against it,it is not frightened by their shoutsor disturbed by their clamor—so the Lord Almighty will come downto do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.5 Like birds hovering overhead,the Lord Almighty will shield Jerusalem;he will shield it and deliver it,he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.”

6 Return, you Israelites, to the One you have so greatly revolted against.7 For in that day every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold your sinful hands have made.

8 “Assyria will fall by no human sword;a sword, not of mortals, will devour them.They will flee before the swordand their young men will be put to forced labor.9 Their stronghold will fall because of terror;at the sight of the battle standard their commanders will panic,”declares the Lord,whose fire is in Zion,whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Final Exhortations

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Thanks for Their Gifts

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings.22 All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.